“They could have included Saratok MP Ali Biju, an Iban, in the cabinet but they didn’t. They should appoint a senator from the Malay-Melanau community to be part of the cabinet.

“PH says it wants to offer Sabah and Sarawak a better deal, to honour the Malaysian Agreement 1963, but the appointments are a slap in the face to Sarawak PH, especially Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen.”

Jeniri said Chong was a much more senior leader than PPBM’s Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, yet was only made a deputy while newbie Syed Saddiq was made a full minister.

He noted that Chong wasn’t just the state DAP chief, but had also struggled against the BN for much longer than Syed Saddiq, playing a vital role in Sarawak PH’s growth in the state.

“This will upset Sarawakians, it will make it tougher for PH in the coming elections as it sends a signal that Sarawakians are sidelined., marginalised and second class,” he said, adding Gabungan Parti Sarawak would likely exploit it to their advantage.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi said he believed the cabinet appointments reflected a “carrot and stick” approach to encourage voters to give more support to PH in the future.

“So if Sarawakians want more ministers from the state from different ethnicities, then they have to support PH. If the support for PH is low, then there will be fewer positions in the PH government.”

Yesterday DAP Youth chief Wong Kah Woh questioned the new Cabinet lineup which features only six ministers from the party, despite them winning the second most parliamentary seats in the May 9 polls.

Prior to that, the remaining cabinet ministers and deputy ministers took their oath before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V at Istana Negara.